In a surprising turn of events, Nicholas Pooran has been appointed as the captain of MI New York just a day after his unexpected retirement from international cricket representing the West Indies. Pooran, 29, decided to step back from all international formats on June 10 but continues to make waves in franchise cricket.
Pooran was instrumental in MI New York's triumph during the inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) season, notably scoring an unbeaten 137 in the final against the Seattle Orcas. Across his international career, Pooran amassed experience in 61 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 106 T20 Internationals (T20Is) with the West Indies.
The franchise released an enthusiastic statement celebrating their new captain: "Our hero, Nicholas Pooran – the 29-year-old pocket dynamite and MINY superstar – has been named captain for the 2025 Cognizant Major League Cricket season. Known as one of the most feared batters globally, Pooran is at the peak of his career and poised to lead us to new heights. He was the leading run-scorer in the 2023 MLC season with 388 runs, and his remarkable 137* in the MLC Final remains unforgettable. We're excited for more of the same brilliance in 2025."
MI New York's campaign kicks off on June 13 against the Texas Super Kings. The team has assembled a strong squad for the upcoming season, featuring renowned players such as Quinton de Kock, Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, and Rashid Khan, alongside emerging talents like Agni Chopra and Sunny Patel.
MI New York squad for MLC 2025
Nicholas Pooran, Quinton de Kock, George Linde, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kieron Pollard, Michael Bracewell, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Tajinder Singh, Kunwarjeet Singh, Sunny Patel, Heath Richards, Noshtush Kenjige, Ehsan Adil, Naveen-ul-Haq, Rushil Ugarkar, Monak Patel, Agni Chopra, Sharad Lumba.